The last two weeks have been have been extremely busy for the Obama Administration, especially with regards to nuclear technology:  a nuclear arms agreement with Russia, an updated Nuclear Posture Review, and an international nuclear summit in Washington D.C. have all been the focus of America’s capital.  On each of these events, all overwhelmingly positive, there has been nitpicking criticism from each side of the rhetorical divide, even from laughably uneducated individuals.  The truth, however, is that the new policies on nuclear weapons for America is a major step forward, especially given the growing worldwide appreciation for such efforts by President Obama.

The treaty with Russia is, essentially, an agreement to reduce nuclear arsenals and place a cap on each country’s deployable tactical nukes.  While this treaty, not yet ratified by Congress, will not result in drastic nuclear changes, it points to a more friendly nuclear future between Russia and the United States, with an eye toward eventually reducing each country’s ability to bring about a worldwide apocalypse to more reasonable numbers.  After the international relations disaster that was George W. Bush, it’s astounding that Russian President Medvedev is still willing to speak with American powers, let alone produce a marked effort in US-Russia relations, achieving what should have been accomplished much sooner than today’s decades after the end of the Cold War.

Similarly, the Nuclear Posture Review reforms America’s nuclear weapons policy to show a better face to the world and, perhaps, be less of an international bully.  Statements throughout the NPR indicate that nuclear weapons will not be used as a “first strike” tactic, and that nations compliant with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and those considered non-nuclear, need not fear the threat of nuclear attack from the United States.  Importantly, however, nuclear weaponry may be used against nations that use chemical or biological weapons, or pose a direct, significant threat to America and its allies, leaving room for an appropriate use of these weapons.  While there is much more to the NPR, including changes in the research, development, and maintenance of nuclear weaponry, the point of this document is largely twofold:  expressing the U.S.’ disinterest in bombing nations with nuclear weapons at a whim, and declaring the danger Iran, North Korea, and other similar nations currently find themselves in.  Contained within this document are many veiled threats to nations that are currently, and illegally, pursuing nuclear weaponry, overtly warning them of the potential results of their actions.

The international nuclear summit addresses nuclear materials in general, with close to fifty countries promising more secure environments for these materials, no matter their form or state, in an attempt to prevent them from being usurped for terrorist purposes – terrorists who have no nation and no treaties.  In addition to a general consensus that the security of nuclear materials is extremely important, the largest gathering of international leaders since FDR created the United Nations has taken the time to not only increase funding to the IAEA but to also condemn the actions of nuclear rogue nations, specifically Iran and North Korea.  Some nations, such as the Ukraine, have even agreed to give up their fissile material, entirely, to nations deemed more secure and responsible.

Criticisms, on both sides, fail to see the importance of this confluence of events:  nuclear weapons are finally being given the official respect they’ve long since deserved.  The current number of deployable nuclear weapons is more than enough to destroy the planet many times over, which is a far cry from their existential excuse of “nuclear deterrence”.  More importantly, nuclear weapons no longer play a large role in the overall deterrence of warfare, since there are far more tactically precise and efficient methods of convincing, via force, one nation of another’s superiority; the most pressing issue of the modern era, multi-faceted terrorism, is not an issue that can be bombarded with nuclear weapons.  True, the last few weeks do not reduce the stockpile of any major country to zero, but that is an impossible dream – a slow step-down is required, lest the situation be taken advantage of.  Also true is that these actions will have an effect on the American military industrial complex, but this is simply not be a reason to condemn an overall intelligent approach to international policy.

What detractors, of all kinds, need to understand is that this is simply the first step in a long process that has been decades in the making.  Change does not occur overnight, especially in the international arena, and time will tell whether these initial forays into a non-nuclear world will be as successful as their potential indicates.  Furthermore, a small reduction in a nuclear arsenal that numbers in the thousands is, quite honestly, of no military consequence – it is a far more symbolic action than anything else.  The actions taken by President Obama do not weaken the United States or its allies; in fact, it has visibly strengthened relations between America and the international community, a much-needed notch on the nation’s belt of worldwide confidence.

Welcome to a post-nuclear world.

From Kyle Brady…

Kyle can be found on his blog, on Facebook, via email, or on Twitter.